World Malaria Day 2016

Jomaa Pharma Contributes to Rolling Back Malaria

25.04.2016 10:00

Jomaa Pharma GmbH is developing a novel treatment for acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria which is based on a new and unique combination of two active pharmaceutical ingredients simultaneously affecting distinct targets in the parasite.Recently, Jomaa proved that the drug combination comprising fosmidomycin and piperaquine was safe and efficacious in 50 patients providing for a 100 % cure rate at all defined time points post-treatment in a Phase II study in Gabon. No drug related side effects were observed. This clinical trial was followed by a Phase II study of fosmidomycin and piperaquine in children below the age of five years to establish efficacy in the most endangered patient group that is currently being evaluated - young children.

A common major drawback of most if not all existing medications is that the parasite develops resistant mutants against the drugs. Antimalarial drug resistance has emerged as one of the greatest challenges to malaria control today.

All newer products on the market are artemisinin derivatives meanwhile showing increasing resistance mainly in South East Asia. Consequently, these drugs cease to be effective in a number of regions with high malaria load. Therefore, drug resistance is the major threat to antimalarials raising the demand for new Non-Artemisinin Combination Therapies (NACTs).

Jomaa's drug combination is a NACT superior to other antimalarials:

a unique mode of action against the parasite

inhibition of a metabolic key target not present in humans

outstanding safety and tolerance in humans

100% cure rate at all defined time points post-treatment

parasite reduction rate greater than 3, fever clearance times less than 40 hours and parasite clearance times less than 50 hours